The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) board of commissioners has approved a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 72 MW of wind power.

The 15-year agreement with Willow Creek Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy Wind LLC, will represent 0.8% of the renewable portfolio standard goals established by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LADWP Board of Commissioners. Renewable energy currently accounts for about 8% of LADWP's power mix. The agreement requires the approval of the city council.

"This is another crucial step in climbing the ladder to reach our renewable energy goals and reduce the carbon footprint of the city of Los Angeles," says LADWP general manager and CEO David Nahai. "The LADWP is committed to bringing clean, green energy to Los Angeles, one MW at a time."

The power will come from a new wind farm being constructed in Gilliam and Morrow counties, Oregon. The project has an expected completion date of Dec. 31. Under the agreement, LADWP will receive approximately 200,000 MWh of renewable energy annually from the Willow Creek Wind Project. The project's power will be received at Bonneville Power Authority's (BPA) Boardman/Alkali Line and then transmitted to Sylmar in northern Los Angeles through the Pacific DC Intertie, which is jointly owned by LADWP and BPA.